We don’t get to choose the kind of hair that we’re born with, but luckily we do get to style it. It’s very common for people with straight hair to want curly hair and vice versa. Whether you’re looking for an entirely new look, have always wanted curls, or if you just wanted to experiment with a new style temporarily, there are plenty of options to make your naturally straight hair look curly. With a little time your hair will look wildly different.

Steps

Method1

Preparation

1

Get the right haircut.[1] A mid-length cut will make it far easier to curl your hair then a very short or very long cut. Your hair will be long enough to add some layers of curls but no so long as to make the whole process unbearable. Having your hair at about your shoulder is the perfect length.

2

Build volume and moisture in your hair.[2] Your hair needs to be moisturized if you want it to maintain the style. If you have let your hair get very dry then the curls will fall away much more quickly. Try to prepare for curling your hair a week or so ahead of time by using moisturizing shampoo products.

3

Buy the right products. Dove Daily Moisturizer Shampoo and Nexus Pro-Blend Bodifying Mousse are two highly recommended products. Use the moisturizing shampoo every other day for about a week before you try to curl your hair and save the mousse for the hair-curling day.

Method2

Bobby Pins

1

Wash your hair. Wash it just like you normally would but use about half as much conditioner as you normally use.[3] Use a towel to dry off your hair – skip the blow-dryer for a minute. You want your hair to be damp while you're putting it up in the bobby pins. This way it will expand only once it is already in the pins and the style will stay for longer.

2

Add mousse to your entire head, including your roots and tips. Depending on how long your hair is, you may need to use several handfuls. Use a generous amount. After applying the mousse, squeeze your hair again with the towel from the ends up to your roots. Avoid rubbing it as this could make your hair get frizzy and difficult to deal with.

3

Apply a root lifter or thickening spray to your damp hair. Apply a root-lifter only to your roots. As you apply, remember the roots at the back of your head and the nape of your neck. You can apply thickening spray all over, just like hairspray.

4

Blow-dry your hair. While you’re drying your hair, use your fingers to comb through it gently. You might need to use a brush eventually, but try to use it as little as possible to avoid making your hair too straight with the brush. Lightly using your fingers is the best option here.

5

Divide your hair into small sections for curling. Starting at the bottom of your head, use your fingers to divide your hair into sections. Just before you curl each section, spray it with hairspray. Use two bobby pins to pin the curl to your head. Do the rest of the sections, pinning each curl securely in place before you move on.[4]

6

Blow dry for about a minute. Once you have pinned up all your curls, blow dry your hair again to encourage it to stay in this style. Then, apply hairspray to your whole head once again. Let the curls cool down completely.

7

Remove the bobby pins. Wait until the curls have completely cooled before you do this. Now tousle with your fingers, but definitely do not brush. The brush will undo all of your hard work. The less you play with your curls, the better. Spray with hairspray one final time. Your hair should be nice and curly. If you aren't satisfied with the results, try sleeping with the bobby pins in your hair.

Method3

Sponge Curlers

1

Buy sponge curlers. You can buy them at any local beauty supply store, online, or even at a local pharmacy like Rite Aid or CVS. They shouldn’t cost more then ten dollars and they will definitely do the trick. Keep in mind that sponge curlers will give a slightly more retro style curl. [5]

2

Wait until you’re getting ready for bed. Sponge curlers stay in your hair the whole night and need a long period of time to work. This isn’t something that you want to do in the morning or if you have any appointments to go to.

3

Dampen your hair. You don’t want your hair to be soaking wet but if you time it correctly curling works best with damp hair. It is easier to maneuver and the curls will be stronger in the morning. Take a shower, dry your hair with a towel, and then wait one and a half hours.

4

Separate your hair into sections using the sponge curlers. Start at the top of your head and work your way down. You can take whatever sized sections you want, just roll it around the sponge curler so it is tightened to your head. Begin at the crown of your head and work your way down to create a vertical line of rollers down the middle of your head. Once you have this base you can continue to repeat the process at the sides of your hair and the back. [6]

5

Go to sleep. Once you have the sponge curlers set up all throughout your hair you can go to bed. The great thing about sponge curlers is that they are soft enough to sleep on. Sleeping with curlers in is the best way to make your hair really curly if that’s what you’re looking for. Make sure that you sleep the whole night through, don’t try this during a few hour nap or the results will be diminished.

6

Heat the curlers with a blow dryer when you wake up. Do this for about a minute before unrolling. Curlers will make your hair really curly; so beware. This is not the way to get gentle waves!

Method4

Curling Iron

1

Choose the right curling iron. There are many different types of curling irons available, and you want to choose one that will fit your hair and the style you want. If you want small, tight curls then choose a curling iron with a small barrel diameter. If you want beach style curls, get a bigger barrel. You can buy curling irons online or at beauty supply stores. [7]

2

Spray your hair with hair spray. You want to do this before you curl your hair with a curling iron. Make sure you get every part of your hair including the nape of your neck and under the layers of your hair. Wait a second for the hair spray to dry before you start using the iron.

3

Pick the right temperature for your iron. Never go above 400 degree Fahrenheit. If your hair is fragile it's probably best to stick around 200 degrees but if it's thicker and coarser you could try 300 degrees too. [8]

4

Divide and clip your hair up into easy sections. Don't make the sections too large or too small - depending on the amount of hair you have you'll probably want more or less sections. Just make sure it's manageable. Start at the top of your head and work your way down - this will make it a lot easier.

5

Wrap each section around the curling barrel of your iron. Start at the roots. You should hold the hair on for anywhere between 10 and 20 seconds before you move on to the next section. [9] If your curling iron has a clamp then roll your hair all the way around the barrel and use the clamp to hold it there.

6

Spray your hair once more with mist. Gently use your fingers to extenuate the curls before you give it this final spray. Hopefully you're satisfied with the results and everything looks good. Don't forget to turn off the iron!

Community Q&A

Look for YouTube tutorials. It also helps to braid your hair at night, then take it out in the morning. Make sure the braids are tight. Once you remove the braids, you can reinforce the natural waves with a curling iron.